The Seducing of God

Before I get burnt at the stake or heresy for saying God seduces, let me say this: God seduces, but not for fornication, rather for a deep, intimate love that can only be gotten after said seduction. You see, God desires us. He doesn't need us, we don't fulfill him, we don't (as Jerry Maguire puts it) "Complete Him" yet he still wants us to Himself. As I continue to walk the road of life, I see how God seduces, woos and calls me to Himself.One of the ways he seduces me is by conviction. I both love and hate it when I am convicted of my wretched...

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The American Patriot's Almanac

"Patriotism means "love for country." The word comes from the Latin pater, meaning "father." Loving your homeland is just as natural as loving your father or mother---after all, your country nourishes you, protects you and in many ways makes you who you are. Just as it's virtue to honor your parents, it's a good and admirable thing to honor the land you call home" (page vii).The above statement is in my opinion, the answer to "why this book?"...

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Year End Books!

This year was a year full of books for me and I wanted to share the great Christian/inspirational books I've read, as well as the fantastic fantasy books I've read!Great Christian/Inspiration books:Velvet Elvis- By Rob Bell (Zondervan)Sex God- By Rob Bell (Zondervan)To Own a Dragon- By Don Miller (NavPress)Searching For God Knows What- By Don Miller (Thomas Nelson)They Like Jesus, But Not The Church- By Dan Kimball (Zondervan)Wild Goose Chase- By Mark Batterson (Multnomah)The Shack- By William YoungVintage Jesus- By Mark Driscoll (Crossway)Confessions...

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Teens and Sexting

Teens and sexuality has been a topic for decades. The latest fad of teen sexual expression has been a fad that has been around for at least 2 years. SEXTING. I've been talking about this issue with my youth leaders for well over a year, and the problem has only grown. With the ease of text messaging, we've seen teens flocking to texting. You can text in school and not get caught, texting plans can be cheaper than regular plans and teens seem...

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A Swift Kick in the BUTT

Recently, I've been re-reading an amazing book titled: A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. I was told I needed to re-read it by a great friend and mentor, because he noticed that I could use the lessons the books teaches yet again. In total fairness, he's 100% correct. I was in the wrong on something and he called me out on it. I both hate and love it when he does this. I hate it because my biggest fear in life has been doing the wrong thing...

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The Eloquence of Words

I may be a geek, a dork a nerd or what have you but I love words! I love the way words can move you to the core, make you wet yourself with laughter or cry yourself to sleep. The power of words is astounding, horrifying and comforting at the very same moment.Words are used to illustrate, captivate and motivate. Words are simply powerful. We can't go a day separate from words, for if you don't speak, read, listen or watch...your very thoughts,...

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The Hardest Thing

Tonight was a very hard night...so hard in fact that I'm up at 12:17am writing this entry. Tonight Marko, my longstanding intern told our teens that this was his last Youth Group. There is no sin involved, no hard feelings and no punishment. Marko and I are on great terms and love and respect one another like brothers...this was just something God asked him to do. I respect Marko deeply, because leaving a ministry is the hardest thing. I remember back to when I was an intern and left my internship to take my job here at Living Christ Church....

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House of Dark Shadows: A Book Review

This book for me is a bunch of mixed feelings. First off, it's not my normal genre of reading, yet it definitely piqued my interest. Let me start with what I didn't like, then I will tarry down the road of what I liked. The author Robert Liparulo in my opinion works to hard to fit "teen-lingo" into this book. I am a Youth Pastor, so I hang out with teens A LOT and I believe they would agree with me on this point. The tee-lingo which was placed...

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Lone Warrior

Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. (2 Samuel 23:9-10) This is an...

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Ministering with Your Hands/Team

The Great Get-Away Pt. 4:*These next posts are simply interacting with Youth Ministry concepts given by Jason Ostrander* This is the final Great-Get Away blog installment. Jason during this weekend was showing us youth pastors/leaders the importance of the Word of God in Ministry, calling us back to what really matters and it was refreshing. It sounds interesting that a "pastor" had to be reminded of the power of God's Word and it's importance...

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